Why we should play for real

[blindzebra]

There is a lot of talk about resting starters...big mistake, IMO.

Teams that rest'em before a bye lose. 3 weeks off is way too much time away. You are rusty, timing is off, you are not ready for full contact and you are playing a team in their normal routine high off a playoff win. In other words you face a probable early hole to dig out of and very likely an early exit from the playoffs.

Another reason to play'em is it's Washington. One, we hate them and rolling over and giving them a playoff birth seems creepy...kinda like having sex with your sister kind of creepy. Two them getting in means 2 NFC East teams in as WC and greatly increases our chances of having to play one of them again and playing them a 3rd time sucks.

Statements...we have a statement to make. We have too many players on the roster who have been a part of several late season swoons. So far in December we are 2-1 and neither win was pretty. Entering the playoffs on a loss, going 2-2 in December doesn't sit well and shouldn't. Plus we have a shot at winning 14 games, something no Cowboys team has done before.

Now obviously we shouldn't play guys that are hurt or with nagging injuries, but everyone else should play and we should play it for real. Playing a quarter or a half is worthless and the message it sends is it doesn't matter, let's just cruise and not get hurt. Well, playing that way against a team needing to win, a team who is a hated division rival, is a sure way to get someone hurt.

So Wade, play'em. Play to win. Play aggressive on both sides of the ball. Get a big lead, knock them out of the playoffs and then get the starters out late when the game is won. Washington will be relaxed thinking we won't be playing for real and they are getting a gimme...so come out and smack them in the face.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Agreed. We need to sharpen up.

 

[DMOB]

Well, I'm not to sure we would win the game even if we did play the starters and what would happen if we lost someone like Romo over a game that did not matter.To many injuries. Nope, not down for that just get some rest and come back in two weeks. Now if all the players were healthy than sure play them for three quarters....but there not healthy.

 

[DMOB]

I do agree that we need to sharpen up, but we just don't have that luxury with all the injuries.

 

[blindzebra]

Well, I'm not to sure we would win the game even if we did play the starters and what would happen if we lost someone like Romo over a game that did not matter.To many injuries. Nope, not down for that just get some rest and come back in two weeks. Now if all the players were healthy than sure play them for three quarters....but there not healthy.

You do realize that we'll be off from Dec 30th to Jan 12th or 13th right?

It's stupid to turn 2 weeks off into 3 weeks off unless a player would be questionable if the game mattered.

Ask the Colts, Dungy did it and they got their butts beat by Pittsburgh.

 

[DMOB]

Yeah, I do realize it. Just my opinion.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

If you rest players and the fall flat in playoffs then all will say you shouldnt have rested them.

If you play your starters and lose one or more then all wills ay you should have rested them.

The only real answer is provided AFTER the playoff win.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Or you could ask the last three NFC Superbowl teams, all of whom lost their last regular season game and still won the conference.

 

[FLcowboy]

Well, I'm not to sure we would win the game even if we did play the starters and what would happen if we lost someone like Romo over a game that did not matter.To many injuries. Nope, not down for that just get some rest and come back in two weeks. Now if all the players were healthy than sure play them for three quarters....but there not healthy.

Romo has started 15 games. One more at risk situation is really low odds that anything negative will happen. Romo needs to play the first half, with Glenn, and run the gas out of the Skins' defenders, then slip Crayton underneath for about 2 scores. If the score is 24-7 at the half, then pull Romo and go into a prevent defense the entire second half.

Washington has to win, then go to Seattle. Let them go west with a depleted team.

 

[DMOB]

What we need to realize is this game means NOTHING to us and EVERYTHING to them. They will come out with everything on the line and we won't. I understand that we are not hitting on all cylinders and need the work, but you figure Gurode, Newman T.O., probably won't even play. So play the second stringers and get back to work the following week.

 

[Nors]

I agree, we need to throw starters at Commanders and bury them. Take them out in 3rd when game gets out of hand.

We need momentum and want to kick any potential future playoff opponent hard.

 

[03EBZ06]

Well, I'm not to sure we would win the game even if we did play the starters ...

You really don't have faith in our team, do you?

What makes you think we can't beat the deadskins with starters?

 

[5Stars]

I agree with the OP...

Go in with the mind set to WIN the game, do not coast on your past accomplishments, especially against an NFCE opponet...

Play the game to WIN! If other players get dinged up during the game there is plenty of time to go and heal up...

Make a STATEMENT!

The Cowboys don't lay down or mail it in for anyone...


:starspin

 

[David276]

There is a lot of talk about resting starters...big mistake, IMO.

Teams that rest'em before a bye lose. 3 weeks off is way too much time away. You are rusty, timing is off, you are not ready for full contact and you are playing a team in their normal routine high off a playoff win. In other words you face a probable early hole to dig out of and very likely an early exit from the playoffs.

Another reason to play'em is it's Washington. One, we hate them and rolling over and giving them a playoff birth seems creepy...kinda like having sex with your sister kind of creepy. Two them getting in means 2 NFC East teams in as WC and greatly increases our chances of having to play one of them again and playing them a 3rd time sucks.

Statements...we have a statement to make. We have too many players on the roster who have been a part of several late season swoons. So far in December we are 2-1 and neither win was pretty. Entering the playoffs on a loss, going 2-2 in December doesn't sit well and shouldn't. Plus we have a shot at winning 14 games, something no Cowboys team has done before.

Now obviously we shouldn't play guys that are hurt or with nagging injuries, but everyone else should play and we should play it for real. Playing a quarter or a half is worthless and the message it sends is it doesn't matter, let's just cruise and not get hurt. Well, playing that way against a team needing to win, a team who is a hated division rival, is a sure way to get someone hurt.

So Wade, play'em. Play to win. Play aggressive on both sides of the ball. Get a big lead, knock them out of the playoffs and then get the starters out late when the game is won. Washington will be relaxed thinking we won't be playing for real and they are getting a gimme...so come out and smack them in the face.

:starspinPOST OF THE DAY:starspin


i usually hate when people do huge quotes, but this has to be quoted.

THANK YOU finally someone made a thread about it before i did. we have to go all out did anyone see the jags play yesterday? the pats? When was the last time we had a strong win? i agree fully zebra

 

[THUMPER]

I would never want my team to go out and give any less than their absolute best. I would play my starters until the game was out of reach before pulling them and putting in the backups.

It NEVER benefits a team to let a game go or to play one as if it didn't matter. The media and fans think certain games don't matter but to real players every game matters and is important, especially division rivalry games!

I hope we come out next Sunday as if it were the last game we were playing all season and everything were riding on us winning it.

 

[DMOB]

You really don't have faith in our team, do you?

What makes you think we can't beat the deadskins with starters?

What makes you think we will? We sqeaked by them at home WITH T.O. who had a huge day(3 td's), a healthy Romo, healthy Newman, healthy Ratliff and others. Now we have Crayton, Hurd and Austin. I like them, but trust me they don't scare the Commanders corners. They did absolutley nothing against the Panthers secondary. I love the Cowboys like the rest of you (for 31 years), but I don't want to risk any further injuries. Sure play some for a while then get them out of there.They HAVE to win. They will do anything and everything to try and do this. We will not have that killer instict to put them away. Sorry, JMO.

 

[Angus]

You really don't have faith in our team, do you?

What makes you think we can't beat the deadskins with starters?

Dallas (with starters) barely beat them the first time in Dallas. And Collins runs the Commanders' offense better than the other guy.

I agree with Parcells, who said on the pre-game show tonight that since Washington and Dallas are fierce rivals who know each other well, and since if Dallas loses to them next week they will probably see them again as Dallas' first playoff foe in two more weeks, it is better to dispose of them next week if it can be done. Otherwise, Washington will be emboldened and very much more difficult to handle.

It has nothing to do with faith. It has to do with good sense.

 

[bbgun]

Had Green Bay won yesterday, I wonder which team would have favored at Fed Ex this Sunday. Both teams needing a win, but one without its star wideout. Of course, the Skins are missing Taylor and McIntosh, but that hasn't derailed them. If we beat them with scrubs (doubtful), they'll never live it down.

 

[dalboy]

play them for the ist half then put most of the back-ups in.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Had Green Bay won yesterday, I wonder which team would have favored at Fed Ex this Sunday. Both teams needing a win, but one without its star wideout. Of course, the Skins are missing Taylor and McIntosh, but that hasn't derailed them. If we beat them with scrubs (doubtful), they'll never live it down.

Whatever. We don't have scrubs.